Claudine Co’s new Legazpi matcha branch revives flood control backlalsh

She’s the daughter of top contractor Christopher Co and niece of ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co.

Lifestyle personality Claudine Co is once again drawing criticism after opening an Almighty Matcha branch in Legazpi City—reigniting online backlash tied to her family’s flood control controversy.

The discussion began after a Reddit user shared a now-deleted Facebook post featuring the storefront, where a comment identified Claudine as the owner.

A screenshot of the store’s soft opening from a now-deleted Instagram post is also circulating among Threads users.

This return to visibility quickly drew negative comments.

“This has to be a joke?! Grabe naman sa pagkakapal ng mukha at pagkawalang konsensya neto kung totoo,” said one Reddit user. 

Others warned residents of Legazpi City and called for a boycott.

Claudine came under public scrutiny in 2025 after online discussions linked her wealth and lavish lifestyle—as seen in her content—to the broader conversation about anomalous flood control projects.

Her father, Christopher Co, is the founder of Hi-Tone Construction and Development Corporation, which was among the top contractors flagged by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

She is also the niece of former congressman Zaldy Co, who went into hiding abroad as the flood control scandal intensified. He later resigned from his post in September 2025 amid mounting pressure from colleagues.

The controversy led to widespread online backlash and a noticeable decline in Claudine’s public activity and content output, eventually resulting in the deactivation of her YouTube and Instagram accounts.

But the appearance of her matcha store online months later showed that the issue had not been forgotten.

Even after stepping away from the spotlight, Claudine and her family’s actions continue to shape public perception.

On social media, eagle-eyed users are quick to spot personalities reemerging or entering new ventures—often reviving past controversies in the process.

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